Birch Tree: Performances of Song & Story
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Stay in touch with the Wild Man of the Woods and see recent photos on my Facebook page

 

How do you put across the idea of caring for the environment without talking down to people? The Wild Man of the Woods is probably the widest traveled Green Man in Britain! The show explores our changing relationship with nature and the landscape through songs, stories and humour - ancient and modern.

He's been promoting natural history and local distinctiveness with considerable passion from Sunderland to Torquay, from Sherwood Forest to the inner city since 1991!

Organisers of fairs and celebrations, at nature reserves and schools, museums and libraries have given the Wild Man of the Woods a definite thumbs up!

Email: birch@songandstory.co.uk
Wild Man of the Woods' Repetoire.

I sometimes tell longer stories which take 30 minutes or more, but I usually opt for a modular aproach covering a range of subjects in a single show. I have been doing this for a long time now, so I have lots of material! You can choose from this list if you like, but it is also a good idea to talk to me about it.

All my shows contain songs & music. The Wild Man of the Woods is recommended for KS2 audiences, 7-11 years. I can do special performances for younger children but you must let me know about this in advance & talk to me about it.

Who is the Green Man? I do not subscribe to the simple view that the Green Man is a known ancient deity, as there is no historical or archaeological evidence for this. I am a professional performer & the Wild Man of the Woods is not prejudiced for or against any religious tradition.

photo by MWP courtesy of Groundwork Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and TraffordModules 
  • Who is the Green Man? History, mystery, art & wildness.
  • History of the British Landscape - with appropriate emphasis.
  • The prehistoric wild wood.
  • The wild woods of the Middle Ages & later times.
  • Local history & place names, legends & customs - local information always gratefully received!
  • Woodland as a habitat.
  • Trees: natural history & history, uses & folklore.
  • Tree Dressing: I facilitate activities & celebrations
  • Woodland Animals: natural history, history & folklore.
  • The food chain & the interconnectedness of all living things.
  • Being green means thinking about the world of the future - education for sustainable development.
Longer stories

  • Bel the Bad

    A tale of the Neolithic! Set in the stone age when people began to clear the wild forest. Bel is a farm boy who runs away to live with the wild people in the woods.

  • Good King Henry

    Separated from his hunting party, the King chases a white doe into a secret glade & finds himself in the presence of Woodland Royalty. My variation on a number of folk tales.

  • The Adventure of the 3rd Grandma

    Nicola Brown discovers that she has a third grandma, who introduces her to the Green Man. This is about looking after our local green spaces.

  • The Trees were Talking

    Danny is a boy who behaves badly when he is in the woods, so the trees decide to teach him a lesson. A funny but moral tale.

Email: birch@songandstory.co.uk